Machine for making boxes.



J. F. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES.

APFLICATION HLED mac.

20, I909 RENEWED APR, 21. 1915.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

5 SHEETS SHEET 1.

J. F. ADAMS. I MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES. APPLICATION FILED DEC 20,1909RENEWED APR 2" I915- L16Q55$ Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

J. F. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES. APPLICATION FILED DEC.20,1909 RENEWEDAPR.2I.1915.

Patented Nov. '16, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J.'F. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, I909 RENEWED APR.2!, I915.

SHEET 4.

6 SHEETS- Patented Nov.

mn sw 1. F,- ADAMS. MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES. APPLIQATION FILED DEC. 20.I909, RENEWED APR. 21,,1915.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

s SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' www.

w. o 0 i W F I J. F. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. :909 RENEWED APR. 21. 1915.

1,16%55. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

'iI-ar tam:

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented No.7... it, 1915.

Application filed Decem'ber'ZO, 1909, Serial No. 534,037. Renewed April21, 1915. Serial No. 22,946.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. AnAMs, acitizen of the United States of America, and resident of St. Clair, St.Clair county,

Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Making Boxes, of which the following is 'a specification.

. My invention relates to machines for mak ing berry boxes of that kindin which the corners of the bottom extend through the sides or band ofthe box, which consists of a strip of veneer scored to provide foursides that are connected by flat corner portions,

and which corner portions are slotted to recei've the corners of thebottom, whereby no fastening devices are necessary for securing thebottom in place, the fastening together of the ends of the band orsides, "by staplesv or otherwise, being sufficient for this purpose.Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide a novel andefficient ma chine for making berry boxes of the fore going generalcharacter, 1n whlch the bands and bottoms are properly-assembled tocause the four corners of each bottom to push their wayoutwardlythrough'the flat corner sections of the band, and in which this formingoperation is accomplished through the medium of a stationary form whichcooperates with the folding mecha-- nism arranged immediately below, aswill cial basis,'or more nearly so than heretofore,

hereinafter more fully appear.

as will also hereinafter fullyappear.

To these and other useful ends my invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed, butI- do not limit myself to theexact construction shown and described.

A special object of my present invention is'to provide mechanism bywhich the bands may be fed endwise to the folding mecha- In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a box-machineembodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine shown in Fig.

1, being a section on line 2'-2. Fig.3 is a detail vertical section online 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section on line 4l-4 inFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the spring pressed plunger forholding the bottom of the box against the form while the said bottom isbeing. fed into position. Fig.

'6 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale, on line 66 in Fig. 1.Fig. 7 shows that portion of the machine that is shown broken away atthe rightof Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section online 8+8 in Fig. 2.Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on line 9-9 in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a detailview of the -clamp for. holding the bottom of the box upon the formwhile the box is being stapled or fas-" tened together. Fig. 11 is aperspective of the cam finger that forms a part of the feed mechanism.Fig. 12' is a detail fragmentary view of the stapling mechanism shown'inFig. 1, showing said. mechanism in position for operation. Fig. 13 is aperspective of thebox made by the said machine. Fig. 14 is an enlargeddetail section on line 147-1 1 in Fig. 2,'looking in the directionindicated bythe arrows, showing the folding mechaary form, andillustrating the positions of the different'cams and links of saidmechai As thus illustrated, my invention comprises an upright frame orbody A having a pair of upright guides a. At the top of this frame thereis a form B, and a support C below the said form. The series of linksD,rest normally in horizontal position on the support C. Theselinks'constitute the folder 'nism wrapped-or folded around the stationfor pressing theband or sides of the box upon the frame B. "Said folderis'belo'w the said form and adapted to be pushed upward and flexed orbentaround the form by the.

vertically movable cam members E. The form has flat corners to form theflat corners conform to said-flat corners.

band or sides-1 of the box is fed upon the flat upper surface of thefolder D, with the bottom 2 resting edgewise thereon. When the folder isoperated by the members, E, the said band or sides 1 is caused to foldabout the bottom 2, so that the corners 3 of saidbottom.projectthrough-the fiat corners J of the box. For this purposethe said band canbe "slotted to rec eive the corners, or the saidcorners can be forcibly pushed through the wood} veneer of which theband 1 is niade. A stop on the end of the support 0 limits the forward.motion of the band, and

.]ink d vvhich'is disposed immediately below the form B, and iipoi iwhich the bandof the box is deposited. As the series of links atopposite ends of this-plate (Z are ,the same at both sides, thedescription of the linksshovvn at the left of this'plate in Fig. Swillbe sullicieiit. The link d iS,1)l\',OlL(l to the end of the plate orlink cl, another link Z is pivoted to the link (P, a linkd is pivoted tothe end of the link'di, and the end link cl" 1 is pivoted to the end ofthe link d5, it being understood that these links are fiat faced ontheir upper surfaces, v'vherebythese surfaces are all in the samehorizontal-planewhen the nechanisiiris "in' normal position as sho'wn inFig. 8.' 'Ilhe lhikd isadapted to bear against the flat corner .surfaceb'of'th'e form the link isadapted to bear against the flat end surface.Zfi' of the form, the link (I is adapted to bear against .the flatcorner sin-fare 0 atthe top. of the form, and the is provided with a cam(1*, said cams being link d" is-adapt'ed to bear down upon the top ofthe forin. For thispurpose the link (Z is provided on its lower surfacewith a cam (i p the link rl is provided )Yltll a cam d, the link k/ i-sprovided with a cam" (Z7, the link (i 1' of any suitable oridesiredSl1il 1)@-,{l.,l1lt prefer-i ably having the different shapes shown1111. Fig. 8. The members E have straight inner- -vei-ti'eal surfaces 1,and flat top surfaces (/1 3. \vhichsurfacesoperate the Said-Qa'ms-Jonthe under sides of the links. It Will be seen that these ea'nis arearranged in such position that when the llltlllltl'S'Ii IDOVBJllNVZIl'd'the upper .ends thereol first engage the cams (Z vat op 'osite ends ofthe link foldingi'neclr. 1 ai isiii,"and as the inoven ientprogressesthese. cams are finally 'lJl'OllgllhlIiljt) vertical alinenientagainstthe inner surfaces (PB-in the niannershmvn in Fig. and this way"the folding action progresses from-the outer links toward the centerliiik. (Z, with the final i-esult tliat the band of-the box-is caused toconform, vvith thestationary"form B in thenianner previously described.t Spring (Z connects together the cams (Z and (t and a springfilconnects the cam (Z with thelink d whereby the-link fOldlngt nlChflDlSIHthen folded thereon.

- clearly in Fig 1.

handle-7t" by \VlllQli it can be 'operate'd, and

auton'iatie'ally straightens out or assumes alioi'izoiital position Whenthe members E move dovi'nvvard' and return to normal position. Referringto Figs. 1 and 14, itvvillbe seen that one of the members E is higherthan theother, whereby one end portion of the link folding.mechanism Dis brought. forward and over ahead of the other end portion, \vherebybneend of the band i folded dovi'nfirst; and the other end portion In otherWords, this causes the-opposite end portions of the band to properly lapwhen'th'ey comei'togetheri During this folding operation the sharp icorners 3 of the bottom of thebox punch holes through the fiat cornersections of the band, or if preferred these slots in the band can beformed first and before the bands are inserted in tliemael'iine. Theframe: 6 that v 7 'carriedathe members E, is also provided With an arm aadapted'to actuate the piv- .oted clampingplate F. It will be'seen thati this plate F is pivotedvat .7 to the frame A,

and is provided with a roll f adapted.,t0-be engaged by the upper end ofthe arm 6 A stop a? on the frameof themaehine engages the rear end 7ofrthe said elainpingplate, whereby the latter is held in its normalpositiona \Vheiithe'frain'e 0 moves upward,

the band'of theboX is folded around the" form B, and around therectangular bottom 1 of the box, and while this is being done the bottomof the bbx is held flatwise ipo'n, the' front. or face" of the form 13'by the clamp For this purpose the roll f is adapted to? engage the innervertical edge ofthe'. arm--6 of, the 1,

so that theclanip holds the bottom box during the stapling operation.

The stapler G is mounted upon a cdppi" of svvfinging arms 9 and g7,whichare :piV':

oted to the'body frame at. 9 .1 The stapling mechanism iscounterbalanced by an'adjust able' eight 9 This stapling mechanismean beof anyfsuitable characteijand is pro- Vided With handles 9* and g'f0rraising and lowering and. operating the same. The arms carrying thestapling mechanism can be con-- I trolled'bya friction device 9,Wlie'rebythe said mechanism will ren aininelevatedpositionfas-fslioiv-ninFig.'12; 4 I g .{Yhen the box i s'finished, it iszre'moved from the-form byithe'stripper H,Wl1lQl1.lfitter'eoi'isists of a couple of parallel andhorizontallydispo'sedrods l1, that slide through the frame A and engagethe ends of the box.

lie I tion, as shown in Fig. 1','or in lowered'posij. l 15 ForthisJpurpose the ends of the fforn' B are a provided with grooves,as'js'hovvn more- The'said stripper has a it is then restored to norml-position by a spring-"pressed arm h i Thebands or sides of the boxes,"and the' bottoms there0f,a' "e fed into place by handoperate mechanism,as 'follo'W's The bet-- Lab p i 4 finger 7c.

vtoms 2 (see Fig. 6) are held in place pack form by a springpressedplunger I, so that they rest edgewise upon the table 2'. A vertical slotor channel 71', serves as a passage whereby the bottoms are fed to the"desired position in front of the form. When a bot tom is pushedforward, it is held in place. by the spring-pressed finger The bands orsides Z are held in pack form in a hopper J, the bands and sides beingsuperimposed one upon the other, whereby the uppermost band or strip ofVeneer can be fed forward upon the flat upper surface of the folder I),when the latter is flattened out or in normal position, as 'showl -inFig. l. the form and folding mechanism, thereis a pair of parallel rodsK, and upon these rods a sliding cross head Zr;

This cross head is operated by a handle 717'." A feed pawl or' dog lv ispivoted ,upon the said cross head is,

and provided with a corner or end portion 73 adapted to engage the edgeof the bottom to feed the latter forward. A cam finger 76* is adjustablysecured upon the feed pawl k andcontrolled by springs M, which camfinger is adapted toengage the mg is. lVhen this engagement takes place,the finger It remains stationary, whilethefeed pawl k move forward ashort distance to complete 30 the forward feeding movement of the bottomof the box. This is necessary in order to feed the said bottom intoposition to enable its rear end edge to snap into position behind thelugb atthe end'ofthe form. \Vhen the feed pawl-7c is retracted, and

when it is again moved forward, its rounded end portion rests upon thefiat face or surface of the bottom, whereas the corner 70 engages theedge of 'the said bottom. The sliding connection between the pawl k and4 the finger k? is such that the corner-portion Z? can-movesubstantially to the end of the Thus the portion 70 can, asstated,advance forward to a. point where it will bring the edge ofthe-bottom which it is engaging into position to be snapped behind thelug b, by the pressure of the springa in Fig- 7. lVhen theupturned'portion of controlled finger '5 The spring 7: is soapplied'that it keeps the feed pawl'fci and the finger 7c" normally inthe position shown the finger is", which portion is engaged by thespring is, is engaged by the stationary lug vit, then the furtherforward movement of the feed pawl k is-in opposition to the tension ofthe spring Thus the finger 70 engages the outermost bottomof the pack,and feeds the same forward to the required position, and when the bottomis in position,

the feed pawl 70 is thrown out of engagement therewith. A spring It"holds the feed pawl k againstthe plate-73 The pack of bottoms is heldpressed against the plates k, which are slightly separated to-receivethe feed pawl 70 The bands or sides are To the right of.

fedforward by a feed finger or pawl L which is pivoted upon the crosshead ic, This feed pawl L engages the end edge of the uppermost band andfeeds the same forward u'ponflthe'folder D. :It willfbe seen that thespring-pressedfinger 2' carries the bottom of theboX over upon the band,so

that the latteriis wrapped about the said bottom. The bands and bottomsare fed by the same-mechanism, that is by the same movement ofthe-crosshead 70, and the-bottom is then sh'ifted'over so that it rests edgewiseupon theinne'r and upper surface of the band Preferably, the rear end ofthe I feed pawl .70 has alug 70 adapted to rest.

against the stationary pin it on the sliding to limit the swingingmotion of the feed pawl 71: under the influence of they spring is, whichis desirable, inasmuch as the. said feed pawl is drawn or moved entirelyout of engagement with the pack of bottoms 2, The bands are held in thehopper J andsupported by a spring-pressed plunger, or vertically movablesupport 7'. This support j presses the pack of bands upward againstblock or cross head It). {This provision-serves I the plate j, whichlatter is slotted to receive the feed pawl L. See Figs, 3 and 8. I Themode of operation may be as follows:

The operator grasps the handle 70' and thereby pulls the feed pawlstoward the form B. In this way a band and a bottom are fed into place,with the bottom standing up edgewise upon the surface of the band, inthe mannei' explained Then the operator actuates the foot lever e tocause the folder D to bend the band, which is scored transversely at thepoints where it is tobend around the form, and to thereby cause thecorners 3 of the bottom to project "through the flat corner portions ofthe band.

The bottom, at such time, is held in place by the clamping plate F, inthe manner explained. vThen the operator swings the stapling mechanism'Gdown into place, and operates the same to drive-the staples 4. Thesestaples secure the lapping end portions ofthe band together, and aresufficient to hold the entire box together. Then the operator, afterraising the stapling mechk anism and restoring thefeed mechanism to'normal position, operates the stripper 1d,", andthe box is disengagedfrom the form and; l

Before the or similar character, may be employed Without departing fromthe spirit of my invention. p f

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

' 1. In a machine for making boxes, the

combination of a stationary form,-a flexible folder below the said form,a hopper at one end "of said folder, said hopper adapted to contain thebands or strips of veneer, a feed pawl, and means for operating thesame, which feedpawl is adapted-to engage the outer end of theuppermostband or strip of. veneer, to feed the same forward upon the i vfolder and'below the form, by-motion'of the said band or strip of.veneer in a direction lengthwise of the said folder and form, whichmotion is also in a direction lengthavise of the band or strip of veneeritself,

means for operating said folder to bend the band or strip ofveneeraround the form; to cause the corners of the bottom to projectthrough'the band, means for operating on the band to fastenthe boXtogether, said folding mechanism comprising a stationary form, meansoperating against the form to secure the endsof the band together, thesaid folding means comprising a plurality of connected link's,'an dmeans for actuating-the links. e

2. In a machine for making boxes, a form, means for holding the bands orsides one on top of the other, means for holding the bottoms verticalone against the other, means for. simultaneously feeding a bottom and aband into place upon the form, with the bottom resting edgewise upon theupper surface of the band, the bands beingfe d from the top-of thestack, and mechanism for then folding the band-about the form,

to cause the corners of the bottom to project through the bandor stripof-veneer.

8. In a machine for making boxes, the combination of aform,hand-operated'mech anism for feeding the bottoms'and bands orstrlps of veneer to the form, the feeding motion of the bands or stripsof veneer being parallel with the feeding motion of the the lapping endportions of the bands, and 56 bottoms, the bands being fed from the topof the stack. mechanism for folding the bands around the bottoms, tocause the corners of the latter "to, project through the corner portionsof theba-nds, a. manually controlled mechanism for stapling togethermanually controlled .means for stripping the boxesfrom the form.

i. :ln a .machme for making boxes. the comblnation of a stationary form,said form having flat corners for forming the fiat corners of the box,hand operated'meehanism forpfeedixig the bottoms and bands or J stripsof veneer to the form, with each bottomagainst the form, thefeedingmotion of the hands or strips of veneer being. parallo] with the feedingmotion of the bottoms,

both the-bands and the bottomsbeing fed edgewise, mechanism for foldingthe bands aroiind the bottoms, to cause the corners of the latter toproject throughthe corner portions of thebands, a manually controlledmec'hanisln for stapling together the lapping end portions of the'bands,and man lally-controlled means for stripping the boxes from the form.

In a machine for making boxes, the

combination of a stationary form, said form having flat corners forforming the flat cor-' band or strip of veneer, means operating againstthe form to secure the ends of the band together, the said foldingmeanscomprising a plurality of connectedlinks, some of which linksconform to said fiat corners, and means for actuating the links.

G." In a machine for making boxes, the

"combination of a stationary form, said form having fiat corners" forforming the flat corners of the box,"hand-operated. mechahism forfeeding the bottoms and bands or strips of veneer to the form, With eachbottom against the face of the form, by edge \vise motion of the bandsand bottoms, the feedingfmotion of the bands or strips of veneer beingparallel with the feeding motion of the bottoms, mechanism for foldingthe bands around the bottoms,;to cause the cornersof the latter toproject through the corner portions of the bands, amanuallycontrolled,mechanism for stapling together 1 the lappingendportions of the bands,

- manually controlled means for stripping the boxes from the form, thesaid folding means comprising a plurality of'connected links, some ofwhich links conform tO'SflKl flat cor-.

*ners; and means for {actuating the links." I

7.111 a -.machine" for making boxes, the

' combination of a stationary form, means for holding a pack of bands orsides; disposed, at one side of said form, a-movable. folder below theform, means for-feeding the bands end'wise upon the upper surfaceof thefolder, from -thetop of thepack, the said bands" being held one upon theother at one end of the folder, means for operating the said folderupwardly, to fold the hands or sides, meansfor staplingthe endsofthe'folded band together, and a stop for the-end of the band;

I 8 Ina machinef for making boxes, the

combination of handoperated folding I ally-operated mechanism forfolding the bands about the form, to cause the corners of mechanism, astationary form cooperating therewith, hand-operated mechanism forfeeding the bands and bottoms to the said folding mechanism, by edgewisemotion of the bands and bottoms in parallel directions, means formanually operating the folding mechanism, to cause the corners of thebot toms to. pro ect through the band, to form a box with flat corners,means for operating upon the folded band to secure the ,box tQ'r.

g'e'ther,-the said folding means comprising a plurality of connectedhnks, some of which links conform to said flat corners, and means foractuating the links. 9. In a machine for making "boxes, the combinationof a stationary form, said form having fiat corners for forming the flatcorners of the box, hand-operated mechanism for feeding the bands andbottoms to the form, by 'edgewise motion of the bands and bottoms inparallel directions, manueach bottom to project through the bands, meansfor operating upon the folded band to secure the box together, the saidfolding means comprising a plurality of connected links, spine of whichlinks conform to said fiat corners, and means for actuating the links. I

10. Ina machine for making boxes, a sta-' tionary form, said form havingflat corners for forming, the flat corners of the box,

' bottoms vertical one against the other,

means for holding the bands or sides one on top of the other, means forholding the ing a plurality of connected links, someof vwhich linksconform to said flat cor'ners,

and means for actuatingthe links.

11. In a machine for making boxes, the combination of a stationaryform,said form havingfiat corners for forming the fiat. corners of the box,hand-operated mechanism for feeding the bands and bottoms to the form,by, parallel edgewise motion of the manually operated bands and bottoms,

mechanism for folding the bands about the form, to'cause the corners ofeach bottom to project through the bands, means for operating uponthefolded band to secure the box together, the said folding meanscomprising a plurality of connected links, some of which links conformto said fiat corners, and means for actuating the links.

12. In a machine for making. boxes, the

combination of a stationary .form. said form havlng fia-t'eorners forforming the flat corners of the'box,'a flexible folder below the saidform, a hopper at one end of said folder, said hopper adapted to containthe bands or strips of veneer, afeed pawl, and I means for operating thesame, whichfeed pawl is adapted to engage the outer end of the uppermostband or strip of veneer, to

feed the same forward upon the folder and below the form, by edgewisemotion of the said band or strip .ofveneer in a direction lengthwise ofthe said folder and form,

which motion is also in a direction lengthwise of the band or stri ofveneer itself, means for operating sai to bend the band or strip ofveneer around the form, to cause the corners of the bottom to projectthrough the band, and means operating against the form to secure theends of the bands together.

13. In a machine for making boxes, the combination of a stationary form,said form having fiat corners, for forming the flat corners of.the box,means for holding a stack of'bands or strips of veneer, disposed inlongitudinal alinement with said form, suitably operated means forfeeding the said bands or strips of veneer endwise 'to a position belowthe form, by motion in a direction longitudinal of the form, means forholding a bottom in place on the form; mechanism for folding each bandor strip folder upwardly of veneer about the form, to cause the cornersof the bottom toproj'ect through the band or strip of veneer, meansoperating against the form to secure the ends of the bands together, thesaid folding means comprising a plurality -of connected links, some ofwhich conform to said flat corners, and

- means for actuating the links.

14." In a machine for making boxes, a stationary form, means for feedingthe bands endwise below the form, disposed at one side of the. form,means for bending the band upward and around the form, means forstapling togetherthe ends of the band on top of the form, and a stop forthe end of the band.

15. A machine for making boxes, comprising mechanism for clamping thebottoms in fixed position, mechanism for folding the bands about thebottoms, and means v for feeding the bands endwise to said foldingmechanism, while the clamping mechanism is open, together with a stopfor engaging and thereby limiting the endw se feed of each band intoposition for folding.

16. In a box machine, a stationary form, means for clamping a bottomagainst the form, having motion relative thereto, toward and away fromthe same, means for feeding a bandbelow the form, movable means-forfolding the band upward and around the form, with the corners of thebottom pmjecting through. the flat corner;

portions of the ban d, s tationary means for supporting said, clampingmeans, and means for stapling together the "endsof the band on top ofthe form, said form having a fixed position throughout the entirefolding operation,

other, mechanism .for feeding the, bottoms,

17. In a machine'for making boxes, the combination'of means for holdingthe" bot-z toms in vertical planes one against the "by horizontaledgewisemovement of each bottom, mechanism' for feeding the sides,-

mechanism for folding the sides'about the bottom, and means upon whichthe lowerv edge ofeach bottom slides as it'moves into position. '18; Ina box machine, 'a stationary form J having vend grooves to receive theendwise movable rods that (strip the boX from the form, alrigidConnection for said-rods ontsid'e of the form, anda folding mechanismalternating in its operation ,with the forard movement of the said rods.

119. Ina m aohinenfor makingboxes, v combination of mechanism forfeeding veneeror-other stockfor the bottoms,-by hori z'ont-al edge wisemovement of each bottom,

means upon which the lower edge of'each bottom slides as it movesinto-position, and

the

folding mechanism-for causing the corners of the bottoms to projectthrough the sides of the box, operative injconjunctionwith said feedmechanism.

20. in a boxmachine, a flexible folding mechanisimand means forprogressively ac- 'tuat ng -sald' mechanism from Ms ends toward thecenter, comprising two vertically movable members havingverticalsurfaces,

' Witnesses: FRANK CURRIER,

JOHN M. SULLIVAN.

